BTS’s V Breaks Records with Viral Military Instagram Post
Kim Taehyung, known as V from BTS, is making waves even while serving in the military. His recent Instagram post has surged to become the second-most liked post globally in 2025, amassing an impressive 15.84 million likes, according to a March 21 report by Dispatch style (@dispatch_style).
On February 23, 2025, V shared a heartwarming glimpse into his military life through a series of twelve photographs. These images showcased his time in uniform, including one particularly charming moment where he posed with a bouquet and a hat adorned with teddy bear ears next to a snowman.
In his post, V reflected on his new milestone as a sergeant, writing:
“Sergeant Kim, I’m here to report my survival! This is D-107. The very scary winter has passed and the warm spring has arrived. Take care of yourself and prepare for it in good health. I’ll come see you soon.”
This post has not only captured the attention of his fans but has also placed him just behind Billie Eilish, who holds the top spot with 16.24 million likes. Remarkably, both artists are the only ones to exceed 15 million likes on the platform this year.
Following the news of this remarkable achievement, fans flooded social media to express their excitement. One fan enthusiastically commented:
“So hot of you Sergeant Kim!!”
Further remarks from fans included predictions about the post’s potential to approach 16 million likes, alongside observations about fluctuating engagement rates. For instance, one user noted:
“No one is doing it like him, even in the military. The world misses you, Taehyung. Only he can turn a simple military update into one of the most liked posts of the year.”
“Who else can serve the country and Instagram at the same time? Only Taehyung. Sergeant Kim is breaking the internet in uniform. We’re so proud.”
The outpouring of support extended to the comment sections of Dispatch style’s posts, where fans celebrated Taehyung’s impressive record-breaking moment, showcasing global admiration and pride.
Ongoing Popularity and Impact on Social Media
Since launching his Instagram account on December 6, 2021, V has significantly dominated the platform. He quickly made headlines by setting two Guinness World Records: one for the fastest individual to reach one million followers in just 43 minutes, and another for surpassing ten million followers within four hours and 52 minutes, outpacing celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston.
As of March 2025, V boasts over 66.9 million followers. Analytics from @btskthv1230 show that he leads global influencer rankings with an average of 10.9 million likes per post. In contrast, football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo averages 6.2 million likes per post with over 650 million followers.
Throughout his military enlistment, V has continued to maintain a strong presence on Instagram. His military update on February 23 garnered 14 million likes within two days, contributing to a remarkable engagement rate of 16.36%, categorically classified as “excellent” in the industry.
On February 26, V achieved fifth place on HypeAuditor’s global influencer list, marking the highest rank for an Asian artist. He also leads in the music category on Instagram, ranking first in the UK and second in the US, trailing behind Selena Gomez.
HypeAuditor evaluates musicians based on follower statistics, engagement quality, audience demographics, and interaction metrics, positioning V as the sole Korean artist in the UK’s Top 50 most influential musicians.
Alongside fulfilling military duties, V has made strides in his solo music career throughout 2024. Notable releases include “Fri(end)s,” “Winter Ahead,” a collaboration with Park Hyo-shin, and a remix of “White Christmas” alongside Bing Crosby. “Fri(end)s” achieved a peak position of No. 65 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 5 on the Global 200 chart.
V enlisted for his mandatory military service on December 11, 2023, alongside BTS members RM, Jimin, and Jungkook. After completing basic training, he was assigned to the Military Police Corps’ Special Task Force within the 2nd Corps’ Ssangyong Unit on February 8, 2024. His service is anticipated to conclude in June 2025.